CERTIFIED

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In collaboration with leaders in the High Performance Driver Education (HPDE) community, the Motorsport Safety Foundation has created standards for the selection, training and certification of High Performance Driving Instructors.

INDIVIDUAL HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVING INSTRUCTORS:

Establish and set minimum standards for the curriculum and operation of its Instructor Training Programs.

On this page you can learn more about the CERTIFIED program, its benefits, and how it works. Please watch the introductory video and read the FAQs.

MISSION / VISION

Improve the standards and operations of HPDE schools, Instructor
Training Programs, and Instructors to provide a safer and better
quality experience for performance driving students and
Instructors.

What is CERTIFIED?

CERTIFICATION LEVELS

LEVEL 1

LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3

LEVEL 4

LEVEL 5

LEVEL 1

Level 1 is the first step on your way to becoming an MSF CERTIFIED HPDE Instructor.

It is a required course, and even if you have extensive instructing experience, Level 1 will act as a refresher and help define the terms and processes that are consistent throughout the CERTIFIED program. Upon completion of this course, you are qualified to attend a hands-on CERTIFIED HPDE Instructor Training Program.

LEVEL 2

The Level 2 MSF certification includes and affects both HPDE Organizations and Instructors.

An HPDE Organization that receives Level 2 certification has met the MSF-established minimum qualifications for its training curriculum.

The Motorsport Safety Foundation does not directly certify Instructors for Level 2; this is at the determination of the Organizer. After successful completion of the Level 1 online course, an Instructor Candidate is eligible to participate in a hands-on HPDE Instructor Training Program conducted by an MSF CERTIFIED Organization.

Once an Instructor successfully completes Level 2 training, they may become qualified to begin in-car instruction with students on track. This certification is valid for a 2-year period.

Organizations have the ability to “grandfather” Instructors who have recently completed the CERTIFIED Level 2 curriculum. This too is at the sole discretion of the Organizer.

LEVEL 3

The Motorsport Safety Foundation is working with leaders in the HPDE industry to define Level 3. More information will be posted here as the program is further developed.

LEVEL 4

The Motorsport Safety Foundation is working with leaders in the HPDE industry to define Level 4. More information will be posted here as the program is further developed.

LEVEL 5

The Motorsport Safety Foundation is working with leaders in the HPDE industry to define Level 5. More information will be posted here as the program is further developed.

What are the minimum standards for the curriculum and operation of a CERTIFIED Instructor Training Program?

RESOURCES

HPDE Hand Signals

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I've been instructing for years. Do I need to do this?

If you have previously been trained by a CERTIFIED HPDE Organizer, you may be “grandfathered” into being a CERTIFIED Instructor. Having said that, it’s mandatory for you to go through the Level 1 online training. This is primarily so you and others are on the same page, and use common language, definitions and approaches.

What if I don't bother becoming CERTIFIED?

Then you will not be CERTIFIED, and that may limit you to where you can instruct. For a school or HPDE event to be CERTIFIED, all of its Instructors must be CERTIFIED – just like a scuba diving school cannot operate with Instructors who are not CERTIFIED. As you know, some HPDE events enlist drivers at the last minute to instruct students, and they’ve been selected simply on the basis of being fast drivers – not because they’re good Instructors. This lowers the standards for HPDE programs, and can be dangerous for both student and Instructor.

Do I get some way of showing that I'm a CERTIFIED Instructor?

First of all, you will receive a "hard card" credential that indicates your level of certification, as well as a Certificate of Completion. Second, your name and certification level will be posted in MSF's national database through MotorsportReg.com. That way, event organizers will be able to check your instructor qualifications, no matter where in the country you are.

What qualifies the Motorsport Safety Foundation to set standards?

The Motorsport Safety Foundation has consulted with many of the most experienced and accomplished industry experts – HPDE Instructors and Event Organizers – over the past couple of years and integrated their shared input and feedback into the standards. It should be noted that the standards as initially set out are meant to be the minimum, and will be raised over time with further input and feedback from all CERTIFIED Organizations and Instructors.

How does a car club or business's Instructor Training Program become CERTIFIED?

Any HPDE Event Organizer can apply to the Motorsport Safety Foundation for certification of its instructor training programs. First, the Instructor Training Program Standards are listed here, so make sure your program covers them. Then, submit your curriculum outline to the Motorsport Safety Foundation for approval: scot@motorsport-safety.org.

Why can't I log into my CERTIFIED account?

To log into your CERTIFIED account, visit motorsportsafety.litmos.com, enter your username (most likely your email address) and password. If you have forgotten your username and/or password, click on the "I've forgotten my username/password" link on the webpage, or email certified@motorsport-safety.org and we'll be happy to help! Please note that your CERTIFIED account is not accessible via the Motorsport Safety Foundation website or MotorsportReg. Your account on MotorsportReg is created in order to register and pay for the online course, and upload the ID-style photo used for your future hard card credential. To become a member of motorsport-safety.org, please click here. An MSF account will give you the ability to post/comment in our forum and exchange messages with other members.

Why haven't I received my hard card and certificate?

If it has been more than a few weeks since you completed the Level 1 online course and you have not received your completion package, please make sure that you have uploaded an ID-style profile photo to your MotorsportReg account. Without a photo, we are unable to print your hard card credential. Images with sunglasses, helmets or any other items that cover your face will not be accepted. The Motorsport Safety Foundation is happy to crop, edit and upload your photo for you, so if you prefer, email it to marina@motorsport-safety.org and she will handle the rest. Kindly make sure the image is not too small or blurry, and that you are looking directly at the camera. If you had uploaded your image after completing the Level 1 course, please let us know as you may still be marked as lacking one in our records. It is also important to make sure your mailing address is accurate on MotorsportReg. We are using the contact details you include in your profile to send your completion package. If the address has been updated since you first registered, please email us with your new contact details since we do not get notified when they change.

As a HPDE Event Organizer, won’t we be losing our advantage over our competitors by being involved in this program?

Your “competitive advantage” is in the way you organize your events, your schedule, locations/facilities, pricing, and the customer experience you provide your students. Safety is a different story. This is no different from how airlines operate. They each provide different levels of services, as well as pricing, but they must all meet or exceed the safety standards set by the FAA. And they all benefit from this, as all suffer when a serious incident occurs.

What if our Instructor Training Program covers things not included in the standards set by the Motorsport Safety Foundation?

The standards set for the curriculum and operation of an Instructor Training Program are the minimums, and we encourage organizations to go beyond them, as long as something doesn’t conflict with the certification standards.

How does an organization show that its Instructor Training Program is CERTIFIED?

Upon approval of an organization's Instructor Training Program curriculum, you will be able to advertise that your organization is MSF CERTIFIED (MSF will provide you with electronic files of the Motorsport Safety Foundation CERTIFIED logo).

No. However, the Motorsport Safety Foundation does provide the Level 1 certification online course, and then establishes the minimum standards for Instructor Training Programs, relying on the various HPDE Organizers to conduct them.

How will ongoing quality and adherence to standards be monitored?

The Motorsport Safety Foundation will conduct random "quality control" audits of Instructor Training Programs, as well as individual Instructors.

How do I access my discount from TrackDayTire.com or Simpson Race Products?

TrackDayTire.com and Simpson Race Products proudly support the Motorsport Safety Foundation in our quest to improve the standards and operations of HPDE schools, Instructor Training Programs, and Instructors. Instructor Candidates earning Level 1 certification receive a sponsorship code for a 10% discount in addition to reduced flat rate shipping on tires from TrackDayTire.com, while Level 2 Instructors are given 20% off Simpson Hybrid Head and Neck Restraints. If you are a CERTIFIED Instructor or Instructor Candidate and have not received your sponsorship code, please send a message to certified@motorsport-safety.org and we will be happy to assist you.

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